10 Amazing Free Things to Do in Mexico City: That Are Actually Fun!
Mexico City is one of my favorite cities in the world and one I just keep going back to!
Mexico City is truly a city for everyone with so many activities and things to do, on all budgets. On my last trip, in April 2025, I was on my tightest budget so decided to take advantage of as many free things to do in the city as possible in my 4 days and found some amazing options.
Whether you are on a budget or balling out, these are some great free things to do in Mexico City
Take a Free* Walking Tour
This is a great way to familiarize yourself with the city, get some local tips and recommendations, and decide what to go back to on your own.
There are many options for free walking tours, but my favorite platform is GuruWalk, which offers a variety of free walking tours in CDMX.
*Be sure to always tip your guide
Museo Vivo del Muralismo (Murals Museum)
📍República de Argentina 28, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06020 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
🕰️ Wed-Mon 10a-6p Closed Tuesday
The recently opened Museo Vivo del Muralismo in Mexico City’s historic centre showcases more than 3,000 sq. m of murals by Modern artists including Diego Rivera and Roberto Montenegro alongside contemporary ones by Manuel Felguérez. The museum, housed in a building that served as the main facility for Mexico’s Ministry of Public Education (SEP), stands in a Unesco World Heritage site that was previously a colonial-era convent and customs house.
- the Art Newspaper
This stunning new museum came on my radar when my Mexico City free walking tour guide brought us for a very brief visit. I loved it (and the price tag) so much I returned after the tour to explore more thoroughly.
Bosque de Chapultepec Park
🗺️Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico City, Mexico
Chapultepec, more commonly called the "Bosque de Chapultepec" in Mexico City, is one of the largest city parks in Mexico, measuring in total just over 686 hectares. Centered on a rock formation called Chapultepec Hill, one of the park's main functions is as an ecological space in Greater Mexico City.
Mexico City is packed with green oasises throughout the city, offering beautiful reprieve from the hustle and bustle of this massive urban sprawl.
The biggest and most famous of the parks is Chapultepec which is broken up into numerous sections, houses ponds for pedal boating, a botanical garden, and even a zoo. Here you will find endless vendors selling savory bites and sweet treats, as well as toys and souvenirs.
You could easily spend a full day wandering this massive mark.
Jardín Botánico del Bosque de Chapultepec (Botanical Garden in the Park)
🗺️Av. P.º de la Reforma 126, Bosque de Chapultepec I Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, 11580 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
🕰️ Tues-Sun 9a-4p, Closed Mon
If you don’t have all day to wander Bosque de Chapultepec, I highly recommend visiting just the Botanical Garden.
This is a true tranquil escape that feels like stepping in to another world. There is a huge variety of flora and fauna, including cactus and varying flowers, to explore and enjoy.
The Cárcamo de Dolores
Not my photos
🗺️Av. Rodolfo Neri Vela, Bosque de Chapultepec II Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, 11100 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
🕰️ Tues-Sun 10a-5p, Closed Mon
The Cárcamo de Dolores (Sump of Dolores) is a hydraulic structure located on the Second Section of Chapultepec Park, in Mexico City, comprising the building designed by architect Ricardo Rivas, inside the originally underwater mural Agua, el origen de la vida ("Water, source of life") of Mexican muralist Diego Rivera, the art installation Cámara Lambdoma by Ariel Guzik, and in outside, the Tlaloc Fountain, also of Rivera.
Also located in Chapultepec Park, this fountain is truly a spectacle to see. Seeing it from eyelevel then the arial view pictures is really pretty amazing. The art and architecture add to this unique free experience in Mexico City.
Mercado de Artesanías La Ciudadela
🗺️Balderas S/N, Colonia Centro, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06040 Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico
🕰️10a-7p daily
The Ciudadela Market is a traditional style Mexican market which specializes in the sale of Mexican handcrafts and folk art, located in the southwest corner of the historic center of Mexico City.
While technically free to enter and wander, it can be hard to resist picking up a few treasures to take home while in this Mexico City Market. If you do plan to do more than just sightsee in the market (which you can spend hours doing), be sure to have pesos and be prepared to negotiate.
⭐Coyoacan Market is a smaller, less overwhelming option.
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
🗺️Fray Juan de Zumárraga No. 2, Villa Gustavo A. Madero, Gustavo A. Madero, 07050 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
🕰️ Open to visitors daily
A bit outside of the city center, but well worth the trip, Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in and of itself is stunning, but also offers incredible views and has vast grounds to explore.
It is accessible by public transit, Uber, or a pretty solid walk.
National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) campus.
🗺️University City, Coyoacán, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
The national university (UNAM) is located on a sprawling campus in the south of the city, and worth a full day's trip down to explore the area. The campus is also known as Ciudad Universitaria, and it is indeed so big that it is like its own city. Here you will find an incredible library, murals, the Espacio Escultórico UNAM and a botanical garden.
Gabriel Figueroa Open-Air Forum at National Cinematheque
🗺️Cineteca Nacional de México, Av. México Coyoacán 389, Xoco, Benito Juárez, 03330 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
🕰️ 7:30p Free Tues-Thurs, 75MXN Fri-Sun
Showing independent and short films (with English subtitles) Tues-Sun, this beautiful outdoor theater is the perfect place to have a date night, meet up with friends, or have a solo night under the stars. Mats are provided and there are several stalls and small restaurants serving food and drinks.
Walk Around
This seems pretty simple, but the many neighborhoods of Mexico City have so many unique things to offer from street art to markets, statues & live performers and the best way to see them is on foot.
While Mexico City is geographically quite large, all of the neighborhoods are very walkable. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and carry water (especially in summer months). Google maps is quite reliable for walking directions.
Whether you are visiting Mexico City for the first time or fifteenth, on an unlimited budget or backpacking, solo or with a group, there is so much this city has to offer!
For the best bars and restaurants in Mexico City,
